Storing and dispensing container and cap therefor



c. M. JONES 1,842,674

STURING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER" AND "CAP'THEREFOR Jan. 26, 1932.

Filed June 26, 1931 Iltj. lflgill] 13131.11 F112 Z Z M .m #m dm w a la Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WLARENGE .M'. JONES, F TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR 011" THREE-EIGHTHS TO BRENT F. CAHOON, THREE-EIGHTHS T0 LEO STEINBERG, ONE-SIXTEENTH T0 EDWARD L. STEVENS, AND ONE-SIXTEENTH TO NANCY MYERS LEAKE, ALL OF TULSA, OKLA- HOHA FTORING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER AND CAP THEREFOR Application filed June 26, 1931.

Thisinvention relates to a storing and dispensing container, which may be in the form of a collapsible tube or a bottle and one object of the invention is to provide the dispensing container with an improved cap by means of which the contents of the container may be confined when not in use and measured quantities ejected as needed.

Another object of the invention is to so term the cap of the container that by loosening the same a portion of the contents of the container may be moved into the cap and the cap then screwed tightly into place in order to eject a measured quantity of material through an outlet opening in the cap and then tightly close the outlet opening.

Another object of the invention is to so term the cap that when the contents are ejected through an outlet opening formed in the cap and the outlet opening then closed, the outer face of the cap may be wiped clean thereby preventing a portion of the material from accumulating upon the cap where it will be liable to turn rancid and cause a persons hands to be smeared when again using the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap of such a design that it may be loosened or screwed tightly into place by means of the fingers of the hand in which the container or tube is held, thereby permitting a brush to be held in one hand while the paste, cream, ointment or any other similar substance is squeezed from a container held in the other hand onto the brush.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, and outlined in the subjoined claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a tube constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the cap in section.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a cap of a modified shape.

Serial- No. 547,117.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the cap of Fig. 3 in section.

Fig. 5 is a view looking at the end of the tube with the cap removed.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper or forward portion of the tube with the cap removed.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the upper or forward portion of the tube partially in perspective and partially in section.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the tube and cap and illustrating the manner in which cream or paste is discharged from the cap.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through the upper portion of a bottle to which a dispensing head formed, in accordance to this invention, may be applied.

Fig. 10 is a view in section showing a dispensing head of the improved construction applied to the bottle of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a'view similar to Fig. 10 showing the lower portion of the head crimped in order to retain the head in place upon the bottle.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a cap applied to the dispensing head.

Fig. 13 is a view taken along the line 13-13 of Fig. 10 and looking down upon the bottle.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-it14 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a bottle equipped with the improved head and cap.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view through a slightly modified form of cap.

The container or tube 17 is of the collapsible type from which paste or cream may be ejected by pressing upon the tube in order to collapse it and this tube may be of any length and diameter desired.

From the upper end of the tube extends a neck 18 which is externally threaded and the threads are preferably coarse so that when the cap 19 is applied only a short turn will be necessary in order to extend the ca a desired distance or return it to a tightly c osed position. It should also be noted that the threads are cut as a left hand thread in order that when the tube is held in a persons hand and the cap grasped between the thumb and first finger a turn in a left hand direction will move the cap away from the tube and a turn in a right hand direction moves the cap to a tightly closed position. It will thus be seen that the cap may be turned either 'for opening or closing in the usual direction in which a screw is turned when loosening it or tightening it.

A cross bar 20 extends diametrically through the neck 18 thereby defining outlet openings or passages 21 which are located at opposite sides of the cross bar and through which the contents of the tube will pass when pressure is applied in order to collapse the tube. This cross bar tapers inwardly in cross section shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 and has a transversely rounded inner edge face in order that the paste or other contents of the tube may easily pass through the neck at opposite sides of the cross bar when pressure is applied to the tube.

From the outer end of the cross bar projects a stem 23 which is disposed in axial alignment with the neck. This stem is of a diameter corresponding to the width of the cross bar and it has its outer or free end tapered as shown at 24 in order that it may have wedging engagement in an outwardly tapered discharge opening 25 formed at the center of the outer end or apex of the cap. Therefore, use of a cork gasket in order to form a tight closure is not necessary. This cap is dome shaped and of such depth that when it is applied to the neck and screwed tightly into place it will extendfrom the inner end of the neck to the outer end of the stem 23. Therefore, it will define a chamber about the stem when it is closed as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 in which contents of the tube may accumulate. It should also be noted that this cap has a smooth outer surface and is arcuate both longitudinally and circumferentially of itself and when the cap is screwed tightly into place the outer end face of the stem will be flush with the outer surface of the cap. By this arrangement, the outlet-opening formed through the cap may be tightly closed and cream or paste which has been ejected through the opening may easily be wiped off the cap. It will thus be seen that the cap may be kept clean and neat in appearance and in addition cream or paste will be prevented from adhering to the cap about its outlet opening where it is liable to become rancid. This also prevents a person from picking up a tube which has been pre viously used and becoming smeared with the surplus cream or paste which-was previously ejected from the tube and not properly wiped off of the cap.

The inner end portion of the cap is externally thickened thereby forming a circu1n-' ferentially extending head 26 which is roughened as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 in order that this head may be firmly gripped between a persons thumb and finger and the cap very easily loosened or screwed tightly into a closed position. Instead of having the bead'formed at the rear edge of the cap it may be located a short distance in front thereof as shown in Fig. 16 if so desired.

When this tube is in use it is held in one hand in the manner in which tubes of tooth paste or shaving cream are ,usually held.

The cap is unscrewed a short distance and.

while a person will soon become accustomed to turning the cap the required distance, the cap may he provided with an indicating arrow 27 and the end of the tube marked with indicating letters as shown at 28. The letter C indicates a closed position of the cap and the leters S, M, and L indicate respectively the distance the cap should be turned in order to permit a small, medium or large quantity of paste or cream to be ejected.

After the cap has been unscrewed the required distance, an air space will be present in the cap between the paste and the outer end of the cap, and by squeezing the tube, additional paste may be forced through the neck in order to fill the cap until a small quantity of paste projects through the outlet opening in the cap. The end of the cap is then a plied to a tooth brush or shaving brush and the cap turned towards the right in order to screw it tightly upon the neck. As the cap moves rearwardly upon the neck, the paste or cream within the capwill be causedtomove outwardly through the outlet openin of the cap onto the brush and by moving the tube longitudinally over the brush as the cap is screwed tightly into place, tooth paste may be evenly distributed upon the tooth brush. As the cap is screwed tightly into place, the tapered outer end of the stem will be moved into the outlet opening and since the outer end of the stem and the opening are tapered the outer end of the stem will have wedging fit, within the opening, thereby causing the opening to be tightly closed when the cap is in a closed position. It should also be noted since the outer end of the stem is flush with the outer face of thecap, when the cap is fully closed, the cream or paste may be easily wiped-entirely off of the outer surface of the cap and, therefore, the cap will be clean.

In Figs. 9 through 14 there has been shown a bottle which may contain hair tonic or any othe liquid desired. This bottle is equipped with a closure similar in construction to that used for the collapsible tube previously described. The bottle which is indicated by the numeral 29 may be of any size desired and has its neck 30 formed with a thickened outer end portion 31 along which extends a groove 32. A; Ii1etal crown 33, which is externally threaded, fits snugly upon the neck of the bottlaiid is formed with a longitudinally extending internal rib 34 which en ages in the groove 32 and very effectively preve ts this crown from turning about the-bottle neck. The crown extends downwardly along the bottle neck a distance slightly greater than the depth of the thickened portion 31 and its inner end portion 35 is crimped inwardly in order to engage beneath the shoulder defined by this thickened portion to lirml y hold the crown in place. The head 36 of the cap is formed with outlet openings 37 and between these openings is located a stem 38 corresponding to the stem :23. This stem is intended to fill the outlet opening 39 formed at the apex of a cap 40 which is similar in construction to the cap 19 and provided with an outstanding angular bead 40 in order that it maybe easily loosened or screwed tightly into place. By loosening the cap the contents of the bottle may be dispensed and the cap then easily and quickly screwed tightly into place.

It should be understood that other modifications might be easily devised by those skilled in this art. without departing from the spirit of the invention, as the same is indicated above or in the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. The combination with a threaded discharge spout of a collapsible tube, a cap threaded on said spout and having a discharge port, a valve carried by the spout and cooperating with the discharge port for closing the same when the cap is screwed to closed position, of a convexed dome shaped outer surface carried by said cap and entirely surrounding the discharge port and onto which material is discharged upon screwing the cap to closed position. said dome shaped surface. forming means whereby all material discharged thereon may be wiped therefrom from any side thereof without engagement with obstructions or angular portions.

2. The combination with a threaded discharge spout of a collapsible tube, a cap threaded on said spout and having an axially disposed discharge port therein, a valve carried by said spout and cooperating with said discharge portfor closing the same when the cap is screwed to closed position, of a convexed dome shaped outer surface carried by said cap entirely around the discharge port and in a position whereby the discharge port is atits apex, said dome shaped surface forming means whereby after discharge of material through the discharge port thereon and the cap is in closed position all of said material may be wiped clear from the dome in a single wiping operation.

3. The combination with a dispensing cap threaded on the discharge spout of a collapsible tube having a plastic material therein of an adhesive nature, a discharge port carried by said cap and through which plastic material is discharged. of a convexed dome shaped outer surface-carried by said cap entirely surrounding and vanishing at the discharge port and onto which the plastic material is discharged and held by its adhesive properities, said dome shaped convexed cap surface forming means, whereby the plastic material discharged thereon and held may be wiped therefrom in a single operation from any side thereof without interference from angular edges.

4. The combination with a threaded discharge spout of a collapsible tube, a cap threaded on said spout and having a discharge port, a valve carried by the spout and cooperating with the discharge port for closing the same when the cap is screwed to closed position, of a convexed dome shaped outer surface carried by said cap and entirely surrounding the discharge port and onto which the material is discharged upon movementof the cap to closed position, said dome shaped surface being relatively long and forming means whereby a substantial amount of material may be held thereon when discharged from the discharge port, said dome shaped surface forming means whereby material discharged thereon may be wiped therefrom from any side thereof without engagement with angular portions.

5. The combination with a threaded discharge spout of a collapsible tube, a cap threaded on said spout and having a discharge port, a valve carried by said spout and cooperating with the discharge port for closing the same when the cap is screwed to closed position, said cap having a dome shaped chamber formed by a dome shaped wall having its apex merging directly into the discharge port of the cap, said wall being free of obstructions whereby the material Within the chamber when the cap is screwed to closed position will freely flow towards the discharge port. be compressed, converged and mixed in its entire passage to the discharge opening. 1

6. The combination with a dispensing cap threaded on a discharge spout of a collapsible tube, said cap having a material receiving chamber therein, of indicia on said cap and tube whereby the cap may be opened to a predetermined position for receiving a predetermined amount of material from the tube to be dispensed.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

CLARENCE MI JONES. 

